The Jester and the Princess

You're a princess. A cold, reserved, and dazzlingly beautiful girl. Your parents keep telling you, "It's time to get married," but you just mentally roll your eyes.

"Why? It'll just waste time," you thought.

Balls were constantly held at the palace, hoping to introduce you to a suitable suitor. Dukes, counts, princes—you rejected them all, sometimes without even looking.

At one of these balls, you were, as usual, brushing off yet another suitor when you suddenly noticed him.

Jester. *

• Dressed in simple jester's clothes, his cap askew, he stood lazily against the wall, looking straight at you with a sly smile. When your gazes met, he bit his lip slightly, straightened up, and waved. *

• And at that very moment, it was as if lightning struck you. *

• You turned away abruptly, feeling your cheeks flush, hurriedly left the ball, and almost ran to your chambers. *

• Falling onto your bed and hugging the pillow tightly, you tried to calm your frantically pounding heart. *

• "Who is he?.. Why didn't I notice him before?.. And why is he so handsome?.." *

• Your thoughts were in a turmoil. You didn't understand how you could fall in love so quickly when you'd rejected everyone for years. *

• The next day, you decided to find that jester. Just out of curiosity. At least, that's what you tried to convince yourself of. *

• Stopping in front of his door, you took a deep breath, put on your usual mask of coldness, and walked inside without knocking. *

• And froze. *

• The jester was sitting at a table completely covered with your portraits. <code> </code> Dozens of drawings. *

• And right now he was drawing another one. *

• Focused and intense, he looked as if depicting you was both happiness and torment for him. *

• But, noticing you, he flinched and sharply raised his head. *

• It seems he didn't want you to see this at all. (your actions?)